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Crytek Busted ?


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The press release from Crytek:

"Today at 9.00 am, there was a raid at Crytek's offices in Coburg, Germany. Due to an alleged claim of a disgruntled ex-intern, Crytek´s office complex was investigated for using more copies of a software brand with the incorrect number of licenses purchased.

The management of Crytek is grateful for the diligence of the German Police Department concerning protected software and fully cooperated in every way. As a software devloper, Crytek is always interested in properly obtaining and utilizing third party software. Development of the eagerly awaited Far Cry was only delayed for three hours while police cleared the matter with Crytek and it's management staff.

Despite false allegations that have appeared in various media and forums, no inventory or personel were affected in any way. Crytek would like to assure its fans that completion of Far Cry remains on track.”

With best regards

Matthias Kersting

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GameSpot

Far Cry developer raided

 

German police search Crytek offices on a pirated-software tip; Ubisoft says game is still on track for its March release.

Early today, reports started coming in from Germany that police had raided the offices of Bavarian-based developer Crytek. Apparently, a former employee told police that the studio was using unlicensed software on their upcoming PC shooter, Far Cry. Some of the wilder reports said a special anti-piracy squad searched Crytek offices and seized numerous pirated copies of Maya and 3D Studio Max before hauling away several employees.

Responding to inquires from GameSpot, Crytek vehemently denied that anyone had been arrested. "Despite false allegations that have appeared in various media and forums, no inventory or personnel were affected in any way," said the company in a statement.

However, the developer did admit the kripo had paid them a visit. "Due to the alleged claim of a disgruntled ex-intern, Crytek´s office complex was investigated for using more copies of a software brand with the incorrect number of licenses purchased," said the company. All a senior staffer at Ubisoft's Paris, France headquarters would say was, "What we've read in published reports is that Crytek had not paid for the sufficient number of licenses."

However, the European staffer also said that if Crytek had used pirated software, that Ubisoft was in no way legally responsible, indicating Crytek is on its own, should the developer or any of its employees be charged. Ubisoft's American reps were similarly cautious, saying "We cannot give any comments on the judicial inquiry concerning the management of Crytek and we hope that the suspicion of fraudulent use of an image-treatment software is revealed to be unfounded."

However, both companies addressed the most important issue to gamers--whether or not Far Cry will slip from its March 23 ship date. "The Crytek team has started working again normally as of Wednesday at 2 pm," read the Ubisoft statement. "The game will ship as planned at the end of March." The German developer was similarly soothing; "Crytek would like to assure its fans that completion of Far Cry remains on track."

By Tor Thorsen, GameSpot  [postED: 02/04/04 12:08 PM]

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WorthPlaying

Numerous German-language sites have reported that Far Cry development studio Crytek have been raided by police and authorities after an ex-employee informed them of widespread software piracy at the studio. Reports indicate that the software has been used to create the game and that the value of the software, if purchased legally, would be over 1 million Euros. The home of Faruk Yerli, one of the three brothers who set up Crytek, has also been searched for illegal software.

UPDATE: Read more for Ubisoft's official statement...

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Interesting thoughts I'm plucking from the forums:

Author:  launchpad912   

Date:  02/04/04 06:40PM 

You realize of course companies have been raided in the past for having legit copies but having non-legit copies installed

what I mean is theyll buy 50 copies and just take 1 copy, install it, and ghost it onto 50 computers

companies have been raided by the police for doing THAT

And I don't see how it could be in the millions of euros, how many 3d modelers do they have? 10? 15?

Author:  OFPN_Shadow 

Date:  02/04/04 06:45PM 

I would'nt worry too much about Far Cry.

As long as the market-value of the product is greater than the fine this game will be released.

uhm... that did'nt make much sense did it? :P

The market-value of the product would be use to pay for the whole or part of any fine they would get, so getting the product out should be their first priority

Author:  Malum2004

Date:  02/04/04 06:51PM 

How are they going to finish the game when the computers were taken for evidence?

Author:  Mocib 

Date:  02/04/04 08:01PM 

 

http://ve3d.ign.com/articles/489/489988p1.....html?fromint=1

"Ubisoft was informed on Wednesday, in the beginning of the afternoon, of the search of the premises of Crytek the same morning. We cannot give any comments on the judicial enquiry concerning the management of Crytek and we hope that the suspicion of a fraudulent use of an image-treatment software reveals to be unfounded.

The Crytek team has started working again normally as of Wednesday, 2 pm and works relentlessly on the finalisation of Far Cry. The game will ship as planned at the end of March."

From a Crytek employee here.

Tim Partlett

Posted: Wed Feb 04, 2004 7:09 pm    Post subject:   

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I can't really say a great deal, as there will be a press release soon, but I think the people assuming guilt before innocence should hold their horses. I'd also like to point out that Crytek is not some East European modding team working in a back room sweat shop, but a professional outfit based in several large offices in the affluent German town of Coburg. I'll leave the particulars for the press release, but I think you can probably work out the likelihood of the accusations being true from the fact that everyone is back here working, and has been since early this afternoon.

The Obvious Disclaimer: These are not my thoughts or posts, I can not confirm or deny any of the above statements, they're only things I found to be interesting to consider.

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Well, considering the press release I posted above from Crytek basically debunks the entire issue, all the speculation about costs and piracy kind of go out the window, unless Crytek is lying to the public about it.

If the police didn't lay charges and they didn't confiscate hardware, then they must not have found any evidence at all to support the claim. You don't leave computers behind if you find anything at all questionable on them.

Sure, the raid occurred. Nothing was found. Crytek went back to work.

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Tim Partlett works AT Crytek, not for them, and said this:

http://www.mediabiz.de/newsvoll.afp?Nnr=14...0000000&T=1

For those of you who can't read German, like me, the above link quotes Faruk Yerli as saying Farcry is going ahead "full steam". That would appear to be the case.

Interesting to see. I'll summarize all the press releases later on for more accurate info.

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<Sigh> It's amazing what lengths companies will go to to protect their investments. What would the world be like if the little guy took the same steps? You'd probably see 10,000 angry people raiding Discreet's office.

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NP Boss...

OK, in layman's terms, here's what I can gather:

An ex-Crytek employee told the German Police that Crytek had multiple copies of illegal software. This morning (US Time), Crytek's office in Germany was raided and searched (so was the home of one of the founders of Crytek).

Police came up empty handed and found nothing that they could fine or charge Crytek with. They did nothing more than walk in, take a look around and leave.

Crytek is saying that Far Cry's release date of late March still stands and will be unaltered because of the raids.

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Sad Sad Sad Day!

Dont forget where CryTek comes from here ( UBI )

This in all could give UBI a bad name if this goes too far!

But yes from what i see it looks like everything is back on track for Far Cry at least this is what Cry Tek says.

So this just might be 1 or 2 guys messing around and given Cry Tek a bad name in all, Might not be the main company in general!

Guess we all wait and see!

But biggest thing i dont want too see is that Cry Tek used some of HL2 coding! :unsure:

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